Chapter 7
Online speculation about the relationship between Xia Linxia, Ji Fengxue, and Xiao Yuran was rampant.
One theory suggested that Xia Linxia and Xiao Yuran's public animosity was merely a persona, orchestrated by capital to generate buzz. Perhaps they were good sisters in private.
Another theory questioned whether Xiao Yuran's recent statement about being single was a deliberate provocation, as her rival had immediately snatched her best friend. Would Xiao Yuran truly offer her sincere blessings?
A third theory pondered how Ji Fengxue, as Xia Linxia's girlfriend and Xiao Yuran's best friend, would navigate their relationship. Would she show favoritism? How would their fans react?
As Xia Linxia idly scrolled through the endless online commentary, Xiang Huaimeng snatched her phone away.
“Please, I’m begging you, can you get a secondary account?” Xiang Huaimeng clasped her hands together. “I won’t interfere with whatever you say on your private account, whether you’re arguing with anti-fans or dissing rivals. So, can you please stop directly confronting them on your main account?!”
Other celebrities had secondary accounts to express their emotions, but her client, Xia Linxia, had no time for such things. Instead, she dominated her main account, tearing into anti-fans and marketing accounts. This played right into the hands of the marketing accounts, who deliberately smeared Xia Linxia, knowing she would engage in online arguments, thus attracting attention from fans and the general public.
Xia Linxia yawned and didn't try to get her phone back. Xiang Huaimeng, thinking she had finally seen the light, tentatively asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sleepy.”
“What time did you go to bed last night?”
“I forgot. I couldn’t stop laughing. My stomach hurt from laughing so much,” Xia Linxia said. “Ji Fengxue’s like yesterday was just too amazing, haha, gagagagaga…”
“…” Xiang Huaimeng put her hand to her forehead. “Stop laughing. You have a meeting with the director soon.”
They were scheduled to meet with a director of an idol drama who planned to adapt a popular web novel. The novel had a large fanbase and good resources. The director had specifically requested to meet with Xia Linxia to discuss her salary.
Xia Linxia, for a change, wore a simple, casual outfit: loose-fitting short sleeves, jeans, and flat sneakers. She tied her hair into a high ponytail and wore light makeup, making her look like a high school student.
The meeting was at a private club. The director introduced the team, production schedule, and salary details. Xia Linxia found it feasible, especially the generous compensation.
As the negotiations were nearing completion, Xiang Huaimeng stepped out to take a call from General Manager Jiang.
A few minutes later, she heard a “thud” from inside, as if someone had fallen. Startled, she pushed the door open, her eyelids suddenly twitching.
The director was on the floor, clutching his stomach and grimacing. Xia Linxia looked down at him condescendingly. “You want to lay a hand on me when I’m dressed so plainly? Pfft, look at your own fat, balding head.” With that, she walked out decisively.
“The director got hit?” Jiang Yuan asked on the phone.
“Y-yes,” Xiang Huaimeng said, chasing after Xia Linxia with her bag. “General Manager Jiang, I’ll call you back…”
“No need,” Jiang Yuan said, having heard everything on the phone. “Come back. We don’t need this resource anymore. Who is the director?”
Xiang Huaimeng gave the name. After hanging up, Jiang Yuan searched the director’s name online and sent a screenshot to her old classmate: “Old friend, you’ve got some work to do.”
Upon seeing the disjointed conversation, Xia Yangxuan immediately understood. His skills were clearly well-honed. He sighed, “What if I told her to just go home obediently?”
【Jiang Yuan】: “It wouldn’t change anything. She’s my person now, and she needs to make me a lot of money for a few more years.”
【Xia Yangxuan】: “You’re her boss, and I’m the one who has to clean up her messes. General Manager Jiang, you’re quite the businessman.”
【Jiang Yuan】: “Mr. Xia, you’re too kind. Would you really trust anyone else to handle this?”
Xia Linxia walked away quickly. As she turned a corner, she accidentally bumped into someone and instinctively apologized. However, she hadn’t managed to rein in her emotions, so the apology was tinged with a hint of resentment, making it sound particularly unpleasant.
Fu Xiaoxuan hadn’t expected to run into her here. She pouted, “Is that how you apologize?”
Seeing it was Fu Xiaoxuan, Xia Linxia’s expression immediately soured. Noticing the script in Fu Xiaoxuan’s agent’s hand, she couldn’t help but frown. “Are you going to audition for that?”
“None of your business,” Fu Xiaoxuan said, turning to leave.
“Wait,” Xia Linxia grabbed Fu Xiaoxuan’s arm, then immediately let go, saying haughtily, “Don’t go. That role isn’t suitable for you.”
“How do you know it’s not suitable for me?” Fu Xiaoxuan asked, amused.
“I just spoke with that idiot director. He…”
“Xia Linxia,” Fu Xiaoxuan suddenly put on a stern face, her beautiful features turning somewhat cold. “Do you think everyone in the world likes you, which is why you’re so reckless? Did you meet the director and think he liked you so much that he wouldn’t choose someone like me?”
Xia Linxia clicked her tongue, thinking that this woman’s thought process was more convoluted than a mountain road.
“Move aside,” Fu Xiaoxuan said.
Xia Linxia struggled to suppress her urge to punch her, forcing down her temper. She said, word by word, “I told you not to go, didn’t you hear me?”
Fu Xiaoxuan shoved her shoulder and walked past her, leaving.
Xiang Huaimeng got her into the car and said, “Since she didn’t listen, just let it go. When she realizes the problem herself, she’ll know who was right and who was wrong.”
“She’s an idiot,” Xia Linxia said.
“Your attitude is also a problem. You were too forceful. Your relationship was already bad, why would she listen to you?”
Xia Linxia was speechless. “So, if I spoke to her nicely, you think she would have listened?”
Xiang Huaimeng: “…No. Some people are just born to attract trouble, there’s nothing you can do.”
Xia Linxia: “…”
At that moment, her special ringtone sounded: “Don’t force me to cry, I’ll turn hostile, I haven’t been a big brother for many years~~~”
Xia Linxia’s scalp tingled. She obediently answered the phone, “Hello? Is this my dear elder brother? What wind has blown you to my ear again?”
Xia Yangxuan said concisely, “Come home. Mom and Dad are back.”
Ever since Xia Yangxuan took over the Xia Corporation, the elderly couple had been like wild horses, galloping all over the world. They were making a wish on a hot air balloon, saying they wanted a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law, when they received news that Xia Linxia had found them a… daughter-in-law?
It was killing two birds with one stone =.=
The elderly couple immediately wanted to parachute back, but Xia Yangxuan managed to calm them down and let them return at their own pace.
“Remember to bring Ji Fengxue,” Xia Yangxuan commanded.
Xia Linxia scratched her head. She hadn’t informed her family about the contract. She frowned, “She doesn’t need to come, right? We only just confirmed our relationship, we might break up tomorrow.”
“Are you being disobedient?” Xia Yangxuan asked sinisterly.
“…” Xia Linxia said with a mournful face, “I’ll bring her! Why are you yelling! I hate this!”
After hanging up, she irritably rubbed her head and asked Xiang Huaimeng, “Do you know who I learned my tone from now?”
Xiang Huaimeng: “…”
Xia Linxia commanded, “Turn the car around, we’re going to pick up Ji Fengxue.”
Ji Fengxue was exercising on the treadmill. Having slept late the previous night, she had overslept. As soon as she opened her eyes, her mind was filled with the demonic “gaga” sound, and she couldn’t help but laugh again.
After sweating from her workout, she switched to a slow walking mode. She placed her tablet on the shelf and played the latest movie.
Ding dong—
She paused the movie, thinking it was her agent. She opened the door directly and was stunned when she saw who it was.
Xia Linxia, usually flamboyant and bright, was dressed simply and plainly, without revealing her waist or legs. She smiled innocently, hands cupped under her chin like a sunflower, and blinked at Ji Fengxue, “Good morning, darling.”
Ji Fengxue had a bad premonition. “How did you find me? What’s wrong?”
“The address was in the information, wasn’t it?” Xia Linxia squeezed inside without another word, looking around the room. She commented with fake admiration, “Wow! Your house is as beautiful as you are!”
“…” Ji Fengxue wiped her forehead with a towel. “If you can’t speak properly, don’t speak at all. What is it?”
Xia Linxia suddenly put on a serious face. “You need to come home with me.”
Ji Fengxue: “?”
“My parents are back and they want to meet you,” Xia Linxia sighed helplessly. “I don’t want to, but if I don’t bring you, you’ll see two strange old people peeking through your door every day, today and in the future.”
Ji Fengxue: “…”
She roughly understood. They were already publicly known as a couple, so meeting the parents was inevitable.
She nodded. “Okay, but I have one condition.”
Xia Linxia crossed her arms indignantly. “You dare to negotiate with me? Believe it or not, I’ll have my parents bother you to death.”
“Then let them. I’m not going.”
“…”
Two minutes later, Xia Linxia’s eyes were sore from staring. “Fine, fine, okay, I promise! What condition!”
“No loud talking, no harsh tones, no threats, no mentioning Xiao Yuran, no deliberate mischief, no unannounced visits, no flirting.”
“…Who’s flirting! Are you worthy of that!” Xia Linxia yelled. “Is this just one condition? How are you more talkative than Tang Sanzang?”
“Just tell me if you agree.”
Xia Linxia quickly compared in her mind: were the conditions harsher, or was Xia Yangxuan more terrifying?
Three seconds later, she said, “I agree.”
“It’s a deal.”
They high-fived to seal the pact.
“I’m going to take a shower first,” Ji Fengxue said. She was still wearing a sports bra and tight leggings, her body glistening with a fine sheen of sweat, as if snow were melting on her skin.
Xia Linxia looked her up and down, noticing that the “damn woman” had a pretty good figure. She seemed even fairer than herself, with a slender waist, and even had abs. Her legs were about the same length as hers, but her chest was a bit small.
Her bare face was dotted with barely visible beads of sweat, her cheeks flushed a faint red, like a steamed white bun – white, soft, and fluffy, looking delicious.
Xia Linxia suddenly clutched her stomach.
Ji Fengxue turned back. “What’s wrong?”
Xia Linxia said embarrassedly, “Damn it, I’m hungry.” She was hungry just by looking?
Ji Fengxue prepared an avocado and egg sandwich for her before going to shower.
As Xia Linxia ate, she looked around. The room was somewhat sparse, with only essential appliances and no unnecessary items taking up space, making the house seem exceptionally large. The style was too stark, not at all feminine.
A real woman’s room should be messy like hers! Clothes and bags piled everywhere! And a dedicated storage room for express packages! That’s what living is.
After Ji Fengxue finished showering, she came out of the walk-in closet. Seeing Xia Linxia had finished eating, she was still sitting by the dining table playing on her phone, seemingly afraid to wander around on her own.
“Let’s go.”
Xia Linxia put down her phone and looked up, stunned for half a minute. She frowned, “Just this? We’re going to meet my parents, and you’re wearing this?”
It was identical to what she was wearing: a white T-shirt and jeans, just without her hair tied up.
“It’s not real anyway. What if your parents like me too much?” Ji Fengxue smiled casually. “Hurry up, don’t keep your parents waiting.”
Xiang Huaimeng was waiting in the car and had been waiting for over half an hour. She figured they were probably done for and even started to worry if the two of them would start fighting upstairs.
Just as she was considering going up to check the situation, the two figures appeared in the rearview mirror. She almost didn’t recognize them. She looked closer; the two were similar in height and dressed similarly. Walking together, they looked like high school best friends.
After they got into the car, Xiang Huaimeng looked back and smiled, “You two look like you have a great relationship.”
“You said ‘look like’!” Xia Linxia rolled her eyes. “She’s an award-winning actress. When she acts, you really can’t tell if it’s real or fake.”
Ji Fengxue said, “Thank you.”
Xia Linxia: “…” I wasn’t praising you!
Half an hour later, the car drove into a villa complex and ascended a mountain road. Ahead stood a house as grand as a palace.
Ji Fengxue’s eyelids twitched. She had looked at properties in this area when buying a house before. The prices were not low, especially for the prime properties on the mountainside. However, it was a bit far from work, and she didn’t need such a large house.
But if Xia Linxia bought it, she was incredibly wealthy. A newcomer who had debuted only a few years ago buying a house worth over a hundred million for her parents would likely be a strain.
Therefore, it could only be… Xia Linxia’s family background was not simple. Thinking of her carefree personality, it was likely due to her background and safety net.
“Whatever you see or whatever strange things happen today, don’t say anything,” Xia Linxia said, waving goodbye to Xiang Huaimeng and walking forward. “You’re right, I can’t let my parents like you too much, otherwise they’ll be sad when the contract is terminated. But I also can’t let them dislike you or get angry! You have to make them both like you and dislike you, do you understand?”
Ji Fengxue: “…”
Xia Linxia looked back. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Ji Fengxue tilted her head slightly, looking up at the second floor of the villa, and asked with a smile, “Did your parents prepare that?”
Xia Linxia followed her gaze and saw a bright red banner hanging on the second floor of the beautiful villa – A warm welcome to the great beauty Ji Fengxue at the Xia family residence.
Looking further up, the elderly Xia couple were both looking down with binoculars. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the sound of a rope being pulled suddenly echoed from above, and colorful streamers rained down on them.
Xia Linxia’s lips twitched.
Ji Fengxue looked up and smiled gently at them, “Uncle and Aunt, hello.”
“Hello, hello, please wait a moment, we’ll be right down,” Mother Xia said, putting away her binoculars and excitedly pulling her husband down. “She’s beautiful! Even more beautiful than on TV! Our Xia is truly discerning!”
Father Xia: “As expected of our daughter, hehe! Her taste is just as good as mine!”
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